The important thing is how the money is collected for said aid: voluntarily, or by taxation.
Properly speaking, the government is not the economic agent of its citizens. It is as wrong to tax citizens to help foreigners as it is wrong to tax citizens to help other citizens.
Morally, it is right to help one's trading partners, since they are instrumental in improving one's life. A dependable trader is like a good friend -- you are glad when they succeed, because they are a source of something you trade for. When they are harmed, it makes sense to provide aid to them.
But some people (especially politicians) overgeneralize on the above point, acting as if everyone in the world is everyone else's trading partner, and so is deserving of aid from everyone else. But the fact remains: only some people are your trading partners, and you know who they are.
The choice of whom to help morally must be made by the provider of the aid. If you are not choosing whom you help, you are a slave.
answered
May 23 '11 at 12:53
John Paquette ♦
1002846●1●8
The ends don't justify the means.